Morehead Lab Educator Visits

After over a decade of traveling the state to bring unique lab experiences to students and the community, the mobile lab buses have retired! However, students can receive a similar lab experience in their classroom through a lab educator visit. This program provides students with an introduction to science careers in biotechnology, health and medicine and other related science disciplines.

Our Lab Educator's mission is to promote equity of access to quality science learning opportunities in order to increase interest, ensure understanding, and demonstrate the relevance of science to all students’ lives.

Planning Your Visit

Due to the different equipment required for each module, and the time that would be needed to set up and break down the lab between different modules, we generally cannot accommodate requests for different modules all to take place on the same day.

Visits canceled two weeks prior to visit date are eligible for a refund of fees. Visits canceled less than two weeks prior to visit date are not eligible for a refund of fees. Morehead may waive this policy if the visit is canceled due to school closure for inclement weather, fire or other emergency condition

90 Minute Curriculum Modules

Biological Bodyguards(ELISA Test) Recommended for Biology, Applied Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Allied Health, and 7th and 8th grade science. Students will use an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to test for a simulated antigen with real antibodies. This lab can be used to model how those in science and medical careers use this process to screen hypothetical patients for disease, test water samples for toxins, or another narrative that you request.

Exploring New Environments (Field Study) Recommended for Biology, Earth/Environmental Science, and 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science. Investigate complex relationships between organisms and the physical and biological environment, as well as the movement of energy and materials within an ecosystem. Note: This module is not available for Mobile Lab BUS visits, and is only offered in September, October, April and May.

Get A Clue (DNA Fingerprinting) Recommended for biology and forensic science courses.Role-play as forensic scientists to analyze drops of “blood” and other evidence found at crime scenes and determine which suspects are guilty by using DNA restriction analysis (popularly known as DNA fingerprinting). Not recommended for Middle School classes. Curriculum Module PDF

Mystery of the Crooked Cell (Gel Electrophoresis) Discover the molecular basis of sickle cell disease and use gel electrophoresis as a diagnostic tool to differentiate normal hemoglobin from hemoglobin found in individuals with sickle cell disease. Module developed by Boston University School of Medicine CityLab. Target courses: biology, anatomy and physiology, allied health. Not recommended for Middle School classes.

Genes in a Bottle (DNA Extraction) Recommended for 7th and 8th grade science, Biology. Discuss cell structure and function before we extract DNA from your own cheek cells using a simple laboratory procedure and watch it precipitate from solution as floating white strands.

So Fresh, So Clean (Water Treatment) Recommended for 7th and 8th grade Science, Chemistry, Earth/Environmental Science, and Biology. Investigate water chemistry and purity with ‘So Fresh, So Clean.’ We’ll discuss pH to see the connections between water, acid/base chemistry and life. Then, we’ll simulate part of the water treatment process by monitoring and altering the pH of a sample of water. Curriculum Module PDF